Baker's Supreme Court Case 'Seismic' for Religious Liberty in US

A Colorado baker's upcoming case before the Supreme Court over his decision to turn away a same-sex couple seeking a wedding cake "could be a landmark, seismic kind of case" for religious liberty in this country, Crux reports.

When bakery owner Jack Phillips turned away two men in 2012 seeking a wedding cake for their same-sex marriage, years of legal wrangling ensued as Christian groups watched and weighed-in, Crux reported.

"There is far more at stake in this case than simply whether Jack Phillips must bake a cake," the U.S. bishops' conference and other Catholic groups stated in an amicus brief, Crux reported. "It is about the freedom to live according to one's religious beliefs in daily life and, in so doing, advance the common good."

The refusal of business owners like Phillips to serve same-sex couples has been ruled unlawful in several states, including Colorado.

The Department of Justice has sided with Phillips, writing in a brief that "forcing Phillips to create expression for and participate in a ceremony that violates his sincerely held religious beliefs invades his First Amendment rights."

Much is riding on the Supreme Court's decision.

"This could be one of the most important First Amendment cases in terms of free speech and the free exercise of religion in a century or more, and it could be a landmark, seismic kind of case of First Amendment jurisprudence," Crux quoted Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, last week.

Phillips said he in the past also had turned down requests to do Halloween, bachelor party and divorce cakes, as well as cakes with atheist messages, Crux reported.

A Colorado baker's upcoming case before the Supreme Court over his decision to turn away a same-sex couple seeking a wedding cake "could be a landmark, seismic kind of case" for religious liberty in this country, Crux reports.